Writing an exceptional CV is the dream of every professional who is trying hard to get the desired position in their area of specialization. Without a well-written CV at hand, you might risk losing a job even though you feel that you are the perfect fit for it. This is because recruiters cannot guess who you are, which skills you possess, and if you are the best candidate for an open role at some company.
You need to show and demonstrate through a CV who you are mainly at the professional level. Following these amazing CV writing tips, you will be able to revamp your CV and make it look much better than before.
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Use Professional Email Address
A resume containing a professional email address looks much more professional than one containing a personal email address. It might cost you a monthly fee to get a professional email address from an email service provider, but it’s worth paying for. It adds a professional flavor to your career. Use a company name for the services you offer instead of your personal or family name.
Use Up To Date Contact Information
You may miss out on a job offer because of the wrong contact information. It’s true that a candidate might not want to include the wrong contact information on purpose. But, paying special attention to your contact details is very important. Your phone number, email address, and physical address must be present and correct on your resume. Recruiters can only contact you through the contact information you provide. Additionally, every professional CV writing service would include candidates’ contact information in a very visible way on CVs.
Choose Font Size Not More Than 14
The right font size can lead to better readability of your CV when recruiters read it. Make sure that the text of your resume has a font size of not more than 14. Otherwise, it becomes hard to read and may lead to your CV being discarded. A classic and easily readable font size for resumes is 12 points. Use standard font size to make your CV nice to look at and easy to read.
Readable Font
Keep in mind that your font allows the reader of your CV to easily read it and get the information needed for the job position you are applying for. For example, if you are going to apply for the role of software developer, keep in mind to write the most relevant skills to the job in a readable font: not too small and not too big. This will help catch the recruiter’s attention, and this is one of the tricks of writing a good resume.
Align Your Content: Justify
Your content does not have to be written in one block, nor should you write too long paragraphs. Justify your text and make sure the whole content of your CV is aligned. A justified content lets your words breathe and make them more visible and readable. Aligned content gives your CV an elegant look. When your text is justified, it will not look condensed anymore, which is more visually appealing.
Use Italic, Bold, and Caps
Among the other great tips for a CV, we find italics, bold, and capital letters very helpful. Text that you can write in bold can be your job titles and headers when writing your experience. Italicize the less important details than the ones you bolded, such as company names and dates of start and end of your work experiences. Company names should start with capital letters. The first letter of each sentence should always be capitalized.
Give Your Sections Simple Subheadings
Adding some simple subheadings makes the information in your cv more digestible. Format your content using subheadings. As such, you create more organized content that can be easily legible. Do not make your CV look like an academic essay. Recruiters will have to read a large number of CVs. Make the readability of yours pleasant and fast. This is one of my CV’s top tips.
Make Sure Your CV Is Mobile-Friendly
Headhunters today are more likely to read your resume on a smartphone than print it. That is why you need to keep mobile-friendliness in mind when writing your CV. Whether you are applying for a job through Linkedin or on a company website, your CV version should not contain paragraphs made up of more than 2-3 lines of text. Moreover, test the visualization of your resume on your smartphone and make sure it is easily readable.
Put Education Section First
While some companies would like to see your most recent experience on top, others do prefer to see your qualification first. For example, if you are applying for your first job after graduation or for an internship, write the education section first. It gives the recruiter an idea about your field of study and your type of qualification.
Balance Your Text and White Space
It is highly recommended to balance your text and add white space. This copywriting technique is very effective in CV writing as well. By adding enough white space between chunks of text, you allow the reader to see and read the information more easily. Do not write a 5-line paragraph in your CV. The reader might even skip reading it altogether. Avoid content fluff and the inclusion of unnecessary expressions. Keep your text short and comprehensive.
Make Your Resume Printable
Most of the recruiters indeed use their smart devices to download and read resumes. But, make your resume printable anyway. Be sure the final version of your CV can be printed in case the receiver wants to print it. Printing is still a thing in many companies and for many recruiters. It never gets old-fashioned. Your print version should be as easily readable and well-formatted as your digital version.
You Can Use Design Elements In CV
A text-only CV is not a must. If you are able to design elements and use them in your resume, that’s amazing. You can also use ready-made design elements online. Many free websites offer such options to design your resume the way you like. For example, you can add forms and shapes where you write brief information. If you are specialized in a tech area where you need to showcase your skills, this is your opportunity. Reflect your design skills in your own CV. It will result in a great first impression.
Insert Action Verbs Wherever Possible
To write your CV, you need to use language. Your lexical choice can have an impact on your job application process. If you are applying to a job that requires dynamic skills, you need to insert action verbs to make your resume stand out. Describe your skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments using action verbs. Action verbs are power verbs that render a resume awesome and unique.
Don’t Use a Jargon
This piece of advice is crucial, especially when applying for a job that is not closely related to your field of study. Avoid using jargon. It might lead to misunderstanding by the person who is going to read your resume. Instead, simplify your language so that you maximize your chances of being accepted to a job. Too technical language can be a double-edged sword; use it accordingly.
Mind Your Structure
The structure of your CV is its skeleton. Distribute all of your information in a readable and clear structure. Avoid condensed information and skipping sections. Make your contact information visible enough and every other detail easily legible. The grid structure is highly recommended to build your CV. It is based on columns, rows, white space, and visual dividers. This structure keeps your data more organized and makes it more skimmable.
In short, to build an attractive resume, follow the above resume tips to stand out from the crowd. It is not only the skills and experiences you have that will affect your job search; it’s also the way you structure and organize your CV.
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